Structural modification of Escherichia coli lipid A by myristoyltransferase gene from Klebsiella pneumoniae

Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: An update for 2019-2020

This review is the tenth update of the original article published in 1999 on the application of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry to the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2020. Also included are papers that describe methods appropriate to analysis by MALDI, such as sample preparation techniques, even though the ionization method is not MALDI. The review is basically divided into three sections: (1) general aspects such as theory of the MALDI process, matrices, derivatization, MALDI imaging, fragmentation, quantification and the use of arrays. (2) Applications to various structural types such as oligo- and polysaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosides and biopharmaceuticals, and (3) other areas such as medicine, industrial processes and glycan synthesis where MALDI is extensively used. Much of the material relating to applications is presented in tabular form. The reported work shows increasing use of incorporation of new techniques such as ion mobility and the enormous impact that MALDI imaging is having. MALDI, although invented nearly 40 years ago is still an ideal technique for carbohydrate analysis and advancements in the technique and range of applications show little sign of diminishing.

Variation, Modification and Engineering of Lipid A in Endotoxin of Gram-Negative Bacteria

Lipid A of Gram-negative bacteria is known to represent a central role for the immunological activity of endotoxin. Chemical structure and biosynthetic pathways as well as specific receptors on phagocytic cells had been clarified by the beginning of the 21st century. Although the lipid A of enterobacteria including Escherichia coli share a common structure, other Gram-negative bacteria belonging to various classes of the phylum Proteobacteria and other taxonomical groups show wide variety of lipid A structure with relatively decreased endotoxic activity compared to that of E. coli. The structural diversity is produced from the difference of chain length of 3-hydroxy fatty acids and non-hydroxy fatty acids linked to their hydroxyl groups. In some bacteria, glucosamine in the backbone is substituted by another amino sugar, or phosphate groups bound to the backbone are modified. The variation of structure is also introduced by the enzymes that can modify electrostatic charges or acylation profiles of lipid A during or after its synthesis. Furthermore, lipid A structure can be artificially modified or engineered by the disruption and introduction of biosynthetic genes especially those of acyltransferases. These technologies may produce novel vaccine adjuvants or antagonistic drugs derived from endotoxin in the future.